U.S. patent application number 16/590052 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-02 for wireless communication apparatus, electronic timepiece, transmission power control method, and storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hiroshi IWAMIYA, Kazuho KYOU, Sadao NAGASHIMA, Ryo OKUMURA, Toshihiro TAKAHASHI, Tsutomu TERAZAKI, Takahiro TOMIDA.
Application Number | 20200107273 16/590052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68072100 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200107273 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KYOU; Kazuho ; et
al. |
April 2, 2020 |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECE,
TRANSMISSION POWER CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
A wireless communication apparatus includes a wireless
communicator configured to perform wireless communication with
another wireless communication apparatus, and a processor. The
processor controls the wireless communicator to transmit to the
other wireless communication apparatus prescribed information while
incrementally changing transmission power by a prescribed degree
until a change occurs in a signal reception state of a connection
request from the other wireless communication apparatus, and starts
transmission of the prescribed information to the other wireless
communication apparatus during a next communication onwards at a
transmission power based on a transmission power occurring when the
change occurs in the signal reception state of the connection
request.
Inventors: |
KYOU; Kazuho; (Tokyo,
JP) ; NAGASHIMA; Sadao; (Tokorozawa-shi, JP) ;
IWAMIYA; Hiroshi; (Tokyo, JP) ; TAKAHASHI;
Toshihiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; TOMIDA; Takahiro;
(Tokyo, JP) ; TERAZAKI; Tsutomu; (Saitama-shi,
JP) ; OKUMURA; Ryo; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
68072100 |
Appl. No.: |
16/590052 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 52/228 20130101;
H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W 52/383 20130101; H04W 52/245 20130101;
H04W 52/50 20130101; H04W 8/005 20130101; H04W 72/0473
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 52/24 20060101
H04W052/24; H04W 72/04 20060101 H04W072/04; H04W 4/80 20060101
H04W004/80; H04W 8/00 20060101 H04W008/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2018 |
JP |
2018-187511 |
Claims
1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a wireless
communicator configured to perform wireless communication with
another wireless communication apparatus; and a processor, wherein
the processor (i) controls the wireless communicator to transmit to
the other wireless communication apparatus prescribed information
while incrementally changing transmission power by a prescribed
degree until a change occurs in a signal reception state of a
connection request from the other wireless communication apparatus,
and (ii) starts transmission of the prescribed information to the
other wireless communication apparatus during a next communication
onwards at a transmission power based on a transmission power
occurring when the change occurs in the signal reception state of
the connection request.
2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor controls the wireless communicator to
transmit to the other wireless communication apparatus the
prescribed information while incrementally increasing the
transmission power by a prescribed degree until the signal
reception state of the connection request transmitted from the
other wireless communication apparatus changes, and during a next
communication onwards, to start the transmission of the prescribed
information to the other wireless communication apparatus at the
transmission power occurring at the time of change of the signal
reception state of the connection request.
3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor controls the wireless communicator to
transmit to the other wireless communication apparatus the
prescribed information while incrementally decreasing the
transmission power by a prescribed degree until the signal
reception state of the connection request transmitted from the
other wireless communication apparatus changes, and during a next
communication onwards, to start the transmission of the prescribed
information to the other wireless communication apparatus at a
transmission power that is the transmission power occurring at the
time of change of the signal reception state of the connection
request incremented by the prescribed degree.
4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor controls the transmission power such that a
quality of communication with the other wireless communication
apparatus is stabilized to within a prescribed range.
5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein when the quality of communication is less than a lower
limit value of the prescribed range, the processor causes an
incremental increase in the transmission power by the prescribed
degree.
6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein when the quality of communication is greater than an upper
limit value of the prescribed range, the processor causes an
incremental decrease in the transmission power by the prescribed
degree.
7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein based on the quality of communication, the processor
changes the transmission power, and starts transmission of the
prescribed information to the other wireless communication
apparatus during the next communication onwards.
8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processor (i) starts transmission of the prescribed
information to the other wireless communication apparatus during
the next communication onwards at a transmission power based on the
transmission power of the prescribed information occurring when the
signal reception state of the connection request changed during the
latest communication, and when the connection request cannot be
received in a prescribed time, (ii) starts transmission of the
prescribed information to the other wireless communication
apparatus at a transmission power based on the transmission power
of the prescribed information occurring when the signal reception
state of the connection request changed during the
previous-to-latest communication.
9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: a storage configured to store the transmission
power, wherein the processor causes the storage to store the
transmission power as a first transmission power based on the
transmission power of the prescribed information occurring when the
signal reception state of the connection request changes during the
latest communication, and causes the storage to store the
transmission power as a second transmission power based on the
transmission power of the prescribed information occurring when the
signal reception state of the connection request changed during a
previous-to-latest communication.
10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein the processor starts transmission of the prescribed
information to the other wireless communication apparatus at the
first transmission power during the next communication onwards, and
starts transmission of the prescribed information to the other
wireless communication apparatus at the second transmission power
when the signal reception state of the connection request is
unchanged for a prescribed period.
11. An electronic timepiece comprising: the wireless communication
apparatus according to claim 1; and a display configured to display
time.
12. A transmission power control method for execution by a wireless
communication apparatus including a wireless communicator for
performing wireless communication with another wireless
communication apparatus, the method comprising: controlling the
wireless communicator to transmit to the other wireless
communication apparatus prescribed information while incrementally
changing transmission power by a prescribed degree until a change
occurs in a signal reception state of a connection request from the
other wireless communication apparatus; and starting transmission
of the prescribed information to the other wireless communication
apparatus during a next communication onwards at a transmission
power based on a transmission power occurring when the change
occurs in the signal reception state of the connection request.
13. A storage medium for storage of a program readable by a
computer that includes a wireless communicator for performing
wireless communication with another wireless communication
apparatus, the program causing the computer to function as:
transmitting means for controlling the wireless communicator to
transmit to the other wireless communication apparatus prescribed
information while incrementally changing transmission power by a
prescribed degree until a change occurs in a signal reception state
of a connection request from the other wireless communication
apparatus; and communication starting means for starting starts
transmission of the prescribed information to the other wireless
communication apparatus during a next communication onwards at a
transmission power based on a transmission power occurring when the
change occurs in the signal reception state of the connection
request.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2018-187511, filed on Oct. 2, 2018, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] Technical field relates generally to a wireless
communication apparatus, an electronic timepiece, a transmission
power control method, and a storage medium.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) is one
short range wireless communication standard, and is known
heretofore for use in establishing a connection between a slave
device and a master device by the slave device broadcasting an
advertising packet intermittently at a prescribed period in order
for the master device to discover the slave device, as for example,
in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.
2012-142877.
[0004] When the communication environment changes during
communication using conventional BLE, such as when a distance
between the wireless communication apparatuses changes after the
establishment of the connection between the wireless communication
apparatuses, maintaining of the connection between the wireless
communication apparatuses may be difficult. Conversely, power may
be wastefully consumed when the connection between the wireless
communication apparatuses is good and continues at a fixed
transmission power. In communication particularly between wireless
communication apparatuses that are envisioned to be used under
certain fixed conditions, prediction of and control at a suitable
transmission power are required.
SUMMARY
[0005] A wireless communication apparatus according to one
embodiment includes (i) a wireless communicator configured to
perform wireless communication with another wireless communication
apparatus and (ii) a processor. The processor controls the wireless
communicator to transmit to the other wireless communication
apparatus prescribed information while incrementally changing
transmission power by a prescribed degree until a change occurs in
a signal reception state of a connection request from the other
wireless communication apparatus, and the processor starts
transmission of the prescribed information to the other wireless
communication apparatus during a next communication onwards at a
transmission power based on a transmission power occurring when the
change occurs in the signal reception state of the connection
request.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A more complete understanding of this application can be
obtained when the following detailed description is considered in
conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating configuration of a wireless
communication system according to an embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating
configuration of an electronic timepiece;
[0009] FIG. 3A is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of
connection processing occurring during a first-time connection
between an electronic timepiece 100 and a smartphone 200;
[0010] FIG. 3B is a sequence diagrams illustrating operations of
connection processing occurring during a second time-onwards
connection;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating communication processing
executed by the electronic timepiece;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating first stage state
verification processing executed by the electronic timepiece;
and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating transmission power
control processing executed by the electronic timepiece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] A wireless communication system according to the embodiments
is described hereinafter with reference to drawings.
[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 1
includes an electronic timepiece 100 and a smartphone 200. The
electronic timepiece 100 and the smartphone 200 perform wireless
communication with each other on the basis of Bluetooth (registered
trademark) Low Energy (referred to hereinafter as "BLE"). BLE is a
standard (mode) issued with an objective of low power consumption
for the short range wireless communication standard termed
Bluetooth (registered trademark). In the present embodiment, the
electronic timepiece 100 operates as a peripheral device that
transmits a below-described advertising packet based on BLE.
Moreover, the smartphone 200 operates as a central device that
receives the advertising packet.
[0016] Hardware configuration of the electronic timepiece 100
according to the present embodiment is described below with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the electronic timepiece 100 is
equipped with a microcomputer 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, a
communicator 103, an antenna 104, a power supply 105, a display
106, a display driver 107, an operation receiver 108, and a
resonator 109. The microcomputer 101, the ROM 102, the communicator
103, the antenna 104, the power supply 105, and the resonator 109
are included in a wireless communication apparatus 10 that is an
example of the wireless communication apparatus of the
embodiment.
[0018] The microcomputer 101 is equipped with a central processing
unit (CPU) 110 as a processor, a random access memory (RAM) 111 as
storage, an oscillator circuit 112, a frequency divider circuit
113, and a clock circuit 114. Although the RAM 111, the oscillator
circuit 112, the frequency divider circuit 113, and the clock
circuit 114 are described as being provided within the
microcomputer 101, such components may be provided outside the
microcomputer 101. Although the ROM 102, the communicator 103, the
power supply 105, the display driver 107, and the resonator 109 are
described as being provided outside the microcomputer 101, such
components may be provided within the microcomputer 101.
[0019] The CPU 110 is a processor that executes various types of
calculation processing and performs integrated control of overall
processing of the electronic timepiece 100. The
[0020] CPU 110 reads control programs from the ROM 102, loads the
read control programs into the RAM 111, and performs processing for
various types of operations, such as the display of time and
calculation control and display in accordance with various types of
functions. The CPU 110 controls the communicator 103 and performs
connection and data communication with the smartphone 200.
[0021] The RAM 111 is volatile memory such as static random access
memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), provides a
memory space for use in operations by the CPU 110, stores temporary
data, and stores various types of setting data.
[0022] The oscillator circuit 112 uses oscillation of the resonator
109 to generate and output a signal of a certain frequency, that
is, a clock signal. The oscillator circuit 112, for example, may
use a quartz resonator.
[0023] The frequency divider circuit 113 divides the frequency
signal input from the oscillator circuit 112 and outputs a signal
of the frequency used by the clock circuit 114 and the CPU 110. The
frequency of this output signal may be varied on the basis of a
setting by the CPU 110.
[0024] The clock circuit 114 measures the present time by adding to
an initial value a count of the number of times of input of a
certain clocking signal input from the frequency divider circuit
113. The clock circuit 114 may be provided by software that
performs conversion of a value stored in the RAM 111, or
alternatively, may include a dedicated counter circuit. The time
measured by the clock circuit 114 may be an accumulating period
after a certain timing, the coordinated universal time (UTC,
Greenwich Mean Time), a local time of a predetermined region, or
the like, without particular limitation. Moreover, the time
retained by the clock circuit 114 is not necessarily retained in
year-month-day-hour-minute-second format.
[0025] The ROM 102 is mask ROM, rewritable non-volatile memory, or
the like, and stores control programs and/or initial setting data.
The control programs include a program 115 for control of various
types of processing for receiving time information from the
smartphone 200 and for conversion of the time measured by the
electronic timepiece 100.
[0026] The communicator 103, for example, includes a memory circuit
and a radio frequency (RF) circuit or a baseband (BB) circuit. The
communicator 103 performs transmission and reception of the
wireless signal via the antenna 104 based on BLE. Further, the
communicator 103 demodulates, decodes, or the like the wireless
signal received from the outside via the antenna 104, and sends the
resultant signal to the CPU 110. Moreover, the communicator 103
performs operations such as encoding and modulating the signal sent
from the CPU 110, and transmits the resultant signal to the outside
via the antenna 104. Further, the communicator 103 measures a
receive signal strength indication (RSSI) indicating strength of
the wireless signal received from the smartphone 200 as an example
of quality of communication with the smartphone 200.
[0027] The power supply 105 is equipped with a battery and supplies
power for operations of the electronic timepiece 100 at the
operational voltage of the various components. A primary battery
such as a button-type dry cell battery is used as the battery of
the power supply 105 in the present embodiment. A solar panel and a
secondary battery may be used as the battery, and the secondary
battery may charge and discharge in accordance with an amount of
electromotive power from light entering the solar panel.
[0028] The display 106 is provided with a display screen such as a
liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electo-luminescent (EL)
display, and performs digital display of data according to time or
various types of functions by using the dot matrix method, segment
method, or a combination of such methods. The display driver 107
performs display on the display screen by sending output of a
driving signal in accordance with the type of the display screen to
the display 106 on the basis of the control signal from the CPU
110. Alternatively, the display 106 may have an analog type
configuration that performs display by causing rotation of multiple
watch hands by a stepping motor via a gear train.
[0029] The operation receiver 108 receives an operation from a
user, and outputs to the CPU 110 as an input signal an electric
signal in accordance with this input operation. This operation
receiver 108, for example, includes components such as a push
button or winding crown. The operation receiver 108 may be
configured to include a touch panel formed from touch sensors that
are provided so as to overlap the display screen of the display
106. In this case, the operation receiver 108 outputs to the CPU
110 an operation signal in accordance with a detection result from
the touch sensor, such as a touch position, touch state, or touch
mode of the user touching the touch panel.
[0030] Functional configuration of the CPU 110 of the electronic
timepiece 100 according to a first embodiment is described
next.
[0031] The CPU 110 functions as an initial state setter 121, a
first stage state verifier 122, a first stage state setter 123, a
second stage state verifier 124, and a second stage state setter
125. These functions may be achieved by a single CPU, or
alternatively, may be achieved separately by individual CPUs.
Moreover, these functions may be achieved by a processor other than
the microcomputer 101, such as the CPU of the communicator 103.
[0032] The CPU 110 as the initial state setter 121 sets the
electronic timepiece 100 to the initial state. In the present
embodiment, the initial state is the state in which the electronic
timepiece 100 executes a standard function of a watch, and the
standard function, for example, is a time display function for
display of time. When power is turned ON to the electronic
timepiece 100, for example, the CPU 110 sets the electronic
timepiece 100 to the initial state.
[0033] The CPU 110 as the first stage state verifier 122 executes
verification for transitioning the electronic timepiece 100 from
the initial state to the first stage state. In the present
embodiment, the first stage state is a state that enables a
prescribed function to be executed by the electronic timepiece 100
in cooperation with the smartphone 200. Here, the prescribed
function occurring in the first stage state, for example, is a
notification function to provide a notification to the electronic
timepiece 100 from the smartphone 200 via BLE.
[0034] An example of a method for verification of the first stage
state is described hereinafter. Firstly, in the initial state of
the electronic timepiece 100, the CPU 110 determines whether the
electronic timepiece 100 is being worn on an arm of the user. The
CPU 110 can determined whether the electronic timepiece 100 is
being worn on the arm of the user by sensing of touch by a static
capacitance type touch sensor provided on a buckle part, for
example. Whether the electronic timepiece 100 is being worn by the
user on the arm may be determined by a temperature sensor attached
to a back cover of the electronic timepiece 100 sensing body
temperature of a human, or sensing temperatures in the vicinity of
body temperature for a prescribed period.
[0035] Thereafter, upon determination by the CPU 110 that the
electronic timepiece 100 is worn on the arm of the user, the CPU
110 commands the communicator 103 to transmit repeatedly to the
smartphone 200 at prescribed intervals an advertising packet while
setting transmission power to a transmission power setting value
stored in the RAM 111, for example. The advertising packet is an
example of prescribed information for transmission by the
electronic timepiece 100 to the smartphone 200. In the case in
which the transmission power setting value is not recorded in RAM
111 such as during first-time connection with the smartphone 200,
for example, the CPU 110 commands the communicator 103 to transmit
the advertising packet using a predetermined initial value as the
transmission power. The initial value of the transmission power,
for example, is a lower limit of power for transmission of the
advertising packet. Upon reception of the connection request from
the smartphone 200 that is the transmission destination of the
advertising packet, the CPU 110 commands the communicator 103 to
establish the connection with the smartphone 200 and stop the
transmission of the advertising packet. Thereafter, the CPU 110
updates the transmission power setting value to the value of the
transmission power at the time of reception of the connection
request. Then the CPU 110 ends the verification of the first stage
state. However, in the case in which the connection request from
the smartphone 200 is not received even after passage of a
prescribed period after the start of transmission of the
advertising package, the CPU 110 increases the transmission power
of the advertising packet by a prescribed value. Then the CPU 110
commands the communicator 103 to stop the transmission of the
advertising packet when the connection request is not received
before passage of a timeout period. In this manner, the
transmission power of the advertising packet is increased
incrementally until the CPU 110 receives the connection request
from the smartphone 200.
[0036] The CPU 110 as the first stage state setter 123, after
verification of the first stage state, sets the electronic
timepiece 100 to the first stage state. Thereafter, the CPU 110
transmits to the smartphone 200 using transmission power of the
value to which the transmission power setting value is set during
the first stage state. In the first stage state, upon reception of
a cancellation notification from the smartphone 200 or
determination that the electronic timepiece 100 is removed from the
arm of the user, the CPU 110 cuts off the connection with the
smartphone 200 and returns to the initial state. The cancellation
notification from the smartphone 200 is transmitted to the
electronic timepiece 100 from the smartphone 200, for example, when
a RSSI measured by the smartphone 200 is sensed to be outside a
prescribed range. Whether the electronic timepiece 100 is removed
from the arm of the user can be sensed by the same above-mentioned
methods for determination of whether the electronic timepiece 100
is being worn.
[0037] The CPU 110 as the second stage state verifier 124 executes
verification for transitioning of the electronic timepiece 100 from
the first stage state to the second stage state. In the present
embodiment, the second stage state is a state that enables
execution of a prescribed function by the electronic timepiece 100
in cooperation with the smartphone 200. Here, examples of the
prescribed function in the second stage state include a
setting-change function for an application by BLE.
[0038] An example of a method for verification of the second stage
state is described hereinafter. Firstly, the CPU 110 measures the
RSSI when the electronic timepiece 100 is in the first stage state,
and determines whether the measurement value is stable. For
example, the CPU 110 determines that the RSSI is stable when the
measurement value of the RSSI continues to be within a prescribed
range over a prescribed period. Upon determination that the RSSI is
not stable, the CPU 110 controls the transmission power such that
the RSSI stabilizes. In the present embodiment, the CPU 110 causes
increase in the transmission power by prescribed value increments
until the RSSI is at least above a lower limit of a prescribed
range. Moreover, in the case in which the RSSI exceeds an upper
limit value of the prescribed range, the CPU 110 causes a decrease
in the transmission power by prescribed value increments until the
RSSI is no more than the upper limit value of the prescribed range.
Thereafter, upon determination that the RSSI is stabilized to
within the prescribed range, the CPU 110 updates the transmission
power setting value to the value of the transmission power at the
present time, and ends the verification of the second stage
state.
[0039] The CPU 110 as the second stage state setter 125, after the
verification of the first stage state, sets the electronic
timepiece 100 to the second stage state. Thereafter, in the second
stage state, the CPU 110 transmits to the smartphone 200 using as
the transmission power the value to which the transmission power
setting value is set. Moreover, upon reception of the cancellation
notification from the smartphone 200 or upon determination that the
electronic timepiece 100 is removed from the arm of the user in the
second stage state, the CPU 110 cuts off the connection with the
smartphone 200 and returns to the initial state. Whether the
electronic timepiece 100 is removed from the arm of the user can be
sensed by the same above-mentioned methods for determination of
whether the electronic timepiece 100 is being worn. Moreover, the
CPU 110 controls the transmission power so that the RSSI is within
the prescribed range.
[0040] Operation of the wireless communication system 1 of the
present embodiment is described next with reference to FIGS. 3A and
3B. FIG. 3A is a sequence diagram illustrating connection
processing that occurs during first-time connection between the
electronic timepiece 100 and the smartphone 200, and FIG. 3B is a
sequence diagram illustrating processing that occurs during second
time-onwards connection processing between the electronic timepiece
100 and the smartphone 200. Furthermore, the operation of the
electronic timepiece 100 and the smartphone 200 are described here
in the case in which the electronic timepiece 100 operates as the
peripheral device and the smartphone 200 operates as the central
device.
[0041] Upon determination during the first-time connection as
illustrated in FIG. 3A that the electronic timepiece 100 is worn on
the arm of the user in the initial state, the electronic timepiece
100 transmits the advertising packet at a prescribed interval Ti
using as the transmission power a predetermined initial value X0
(step S10). When the connection request from the smartphone 200 is
not received by the time a prescribed period is passed, the
electronic timepiece 100 incrementally increases the transmission
power from X0 by a prescribed value .DELTA.X to become X1 and
transmits the advertising packet at the prescribed interval Ti
(step S11). When the connection request from the smartphone 200 is
not received by the time of passage of the prescribed period since
the updating of the transmission power, the electronic timepiece
100 updates the transmission power from X1 by incrementing by the
prescribed value .DELTA.X to become X2 and transmits the
advertising packet at the prescribed interval Ti (step S12). Then
upon receiving the advertising packet, the smartphone 200 transmits
the connection request to the electronic timepiece 100 (step S13).
The smartphone 200 and the electronic timepiece 100 upon receiving
the connection request execute the connection sequence and
establish the connection (step S14). Thereafter, the electronic
timepiece 100 stores as the transmission power setting the
transmission power X2 of the advertising packet at the time of
reception of the connection request from the smartphone 200, and
executes data communication with the smartphone 200 at the
transmission power X2 (step S15).
[0042] Moreover, at the time of second time-onwards connection as
illustrated in FIG. 3B, upon determination in the initial state
that the electronic timepiece 100 is being worn by the user, the
electronic timepiece 100 transmits the advertising packet at the
prescribed interval Ti using the value X2 to which the transmission
power setting value is set during the latest connection as the
transmission power (step S20). At this time when there is no change
in communication environment versus the communication environment
during the latest connection, the smartphone 200 receives the
advertising packet transmitted at the transmission power X2 and
transmits the connection request to the electronic timepiece 100
(step S21). The electronic timepiece 100 that receives the
connection request and the smartphone 200 execute the connection
sequence and establish the connection (step S22). Thereafter, the
electronic timepiece 100 executes data communication with the
smartphone 200 at the transmission power X2 of the advertising
packet used when receiving the connection request from the
smartphone 200 (step S23).
[0043] Operation of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the
present embodiment is described next. An example of operation of
the electronic timepiece 100 is described here with reference the
flowchart of FIG. 4 for communication processing executed by the
CPU 110 of the electronic timepiece 100. In response to the turning
ON of power to the electronic timepiece 100, the CPU 110 of the
electronic timepiece 100 starts communication processing.
[0044] Upon the start of communication processing, the CPU 110 sets
the electronic timepiece 100 to the initial state (step S101). Then
the CPU 110 executes first stage state verification processing
(step S102).
[0045] A flowchart of the first stage state verification processing
is illustrated in FIG. 5. Upon the start of the first stage state
verification processing, the CPU 110 determines whether the
electronic timepiece 100 is being worn on the arm of the user (step
S201). The CPU 110 waits until determination is made that the
electronic timepiece 100 is being worn on the arm of the user (NO
in step S201).
[0046] Upon determination that the electronic timepiece 100 is
being worn on the arm of the user (YES in step S201), the CPU 110
sets the value at which the transmission power setting value is set
to the transmission power X (step S202). Then the CPU 110 starts
transmission of the advertising packet at the transmission power X
(step S203).
[0047] The CPU 110 determines whether the connection request from
the smartphone 200 is received (step S204). Upon determination that
the connection request from the smartphone 200 is not received (NO
in step S204), the CPU 110 determines whether a prescribed period
is passed since the start of the transmission of the advertising
packet at the present transmission power X (step S205). Upon
determination that the prescribed period is not passed (NO in step
S205), the CPU 110 continues the transmission of the advertising
packet at the transmission power X until passage of the prescribed
period.
[0048] Upon determination that the prescribed period is passed (YES
in step S205), the CPU 110 determines whether the timeout period is
passed (step S206). Upon determination that the timeout period is
not passed (NO in step S206), the CPU 110 updates the transmission
power X from the present transmission power X by incrementing by
the prescribed value (step S207). Then the CPU 110 returns to step
S203 and starts the transmission of the advertising packet at the
updated transmission power X. Moreover, upon determination that the
timeout period is passed (YES in step S206), the CPU 110 cuts off
the connection with the smartphone 200 and waits until a command
for reconnection is sent from the operation receiver 108 (NO in
step S113 of FIG. 4). Then upon determination that the command for
reconnection is received (YES in step S113), the CPU 110 executes
the first stage state verification processing (step S102 in FIG.
4).
[0049] However, upon determination that the connection request is
received (change in the signal reception state of the connection
request, YES in step S204), the CPU 110 updates the transmission
power setting value to the value of the present transmission power
(step S208). Thereafter, the CPU 110 executes the connection
sequence and establishes the connection with the smartphone 200
(step S209). Thereafter, the CPU 110 sets the electronic timepiece
100 to the first stage state (step S210), and proceeds to the
processing of step S103 in FIG. 4.
[0050] Again with reference to FIG. 4, the CPU 110 determines
whether the cancellation notification is received from the
smartphone 200 (step S103). Upon determination that the
cancellation notification is received from the smartphone 200 (YES
in step S103), the CPU 110 cuts off the connection to the
smartphone 200, returns to the initial state, and proceeds to step
S202 of FIG. 5.
[0051] Upon determination that the cancellation notification is not
received from the smartphone 200 (NO in step S103), the CPU 110
determines whether the electronic timepiece 100 is removed from the
arm of the user (step S104). Upon determination that the electronic
timepiece 100 is removed from the arm of the user (YES in step
S104), the CPU 110 cuts off the connection with the smartphone 200,
returns to step S101, and performs setting to the initial
state.
[0052] Upon determination that the electronic timepiece 100 is
removed from the arm of the user (NO in step S104), the CPU 110
determines whether the RSSI is stabilized to within the prescribed
range (step S105). Upon determination that the RSSI is not
stabilized to within the prescribed range (NO in step S105), the
CPU 110 executes transmission power control processing (step
S106).
[0053] A flowchart of the transmission power control processing is
illustrated in FIG. 6. Upon the start of the transmission power
control processing, the CPU 110 increments the present transmission
power X by the prescribed value (step S301).
[0054] Thereafter, the CPU 110 determines whether the present RSSI
is at a value that is at least the lower limit of the prescribed
range (step S302). Upon determination that the present RSSI is not
at least the lower limit of the prescribed range (NO in step S302),
the CPU 110 returns to the processing of step S301 and causes
incrementing again of the transmission power X by the prescribed
value.
[0055] Upon determination that the present RSSI value is at least
the lower limit value of the prescribed range (YES in step S302),
the CPU 110 determines whether the present RSSI is no more than the
upper limit of the prescribed range (step S303). Upon determination
that the present RSSI is no more than the upper limit of the
prescribed range (NO in step S303), the CPU 110 decrements the
transmission power X by the prescribed value (step S304), and
returns to the processing of step S303.
[0056] Upon determination that the present RSSI is no more than the
upper limit of the prescribed range (YES in step S303), the CPU 110
determines whether the RSSI is stabilized to within the prescribed
range (step S305). The CPU 110 waits until determination that the
RSSI is stabilized to within the prescribed range (NO in step
S305).
[0057] Upon determination that the RSSI is stabilized to within the
prescribed range (YES in step S305), the CPU 110 updates the
transmission power setting value to the value X of the present
transmission power (step S306). Thereafter, the CPU 110 proceeds to
the processing of step S103 in FIG. 4.
[0058] Again with reference to FIG. 4, upon determination that the
RSSI is stabilized to within the prescribed range (YES in step
S105), the CPU 110 sets the electronic timepiece 100 to the second
stage state (step S107).
[0059] Thereafter, the CPU 110 determines whether the cancellation
notification is received from the smartphone 200 (step S108). Upon
determination that the cancellation notification from the
smartphone 200 is received (YES in step S108), the CPU 110 cuts off
the connection with the smartphone 200, returns to the initial
state, and proceeds to step S202 of FIG. 5.
[0060] Upon determination that the cancellation notification is not
received from the smartphone 200 (NO in step S108), the CPU 110
determines whether the electronic timepiece 100 is removed from the
arm of the user (step S109). Upon determination that the electronic
timepiece 100 is removed from the arm of the user (YES in step
S109), the CPU 110 cuts off the connection with the smartphone 200,
returns to step S101, and performs setting to the initial
state.
[0061] Upon determination that the electronic timepiece 100 is not
removed from the arm of the user (NO in step S109), the CPU 110
determines whether the RSSI is no more than the prescribed value
(step S110). Upon determination that the RSSI is no more than the
prescribed value (YES in step S110), the CPU 110 proceeds to the
processing of step S210 in FIG. 5, and returns to the first stage
state.
[0062] Upon determination that the RSSI is no more than the
prescribed value (NO in step S110), the CPU 110 determines whether
the RSSI is stabilized to within the prescribed range (step S111).
Upon determination that the RSSI is stabilized to within the
prescribed range (YES in step S111), the CPU 110 returns to the
processing of step S108. Upon determination that the RSSI is not
stabilized to within the prescribed range (NO in step S111), the
CPU 110 executes the transmission power control processing
illustrated in FIG. 6 (step S112).
[0063] The CPU 110 repeatedly executes the aforementioned
communication processing until, for example, power is turned
OFF.
[0064] According to the aforementioned embodiment as described
above, the electronic timepiece 100 controls the transmission power
of electromagnetic waves transmitted to the smartphone 200 on the
basis of the quality of communication with the smartphone 200.
Therefore, even in the case of a change in the communication
environment between the electronic timepiece 100 and the smartphone
200, the connection state between the electronic timepiece 100 and
the smartphone 200 can be maintained due to control of the
transmission power in accordance with such change.
[0065] Moreover, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the
electronic timepiece 100 controls the transmission power such that
the quality of communication with the smartphone 200 is stabilized
to within the prescribed range. Therefore, the electronic timepiece
100 can maintain the connection state with the smartphone 200
without lowering of the quality of communication.
[0066] Moreover, according to the aforementioned embodiment, when
the quality of communication is lower than the lower limit value of
the prescribed range, the electronic timepiece 100 causes a gradual
increase of the transmission power by a prescribed degree, and when
the quality of communication is at least an upper limit value of
the prescribed range, causes the transmission power to
incrementally decrease by the prescribed degree. Therefore the
electronic timepiece 100 in accordance with the communication
environment can maintain the quality of communication within a
desired range.
[0067] Moreover, according to the above embodiment, the electronic
timepiece 100 controls the communicator 103, and transmits to the
smartphone 200 the advertising packet while incrementally
incrementing the transmission power by the prescribed value until
the communicator 103 receives the connection request from the
smartphone 200 (until change in the signal reception state of the
connection request). Thereafter, upon the communicator 103
receiving the connection request, the electronic timepiece 100
establishes the connection with the smartphone 200, and starts the
data communication with the smartphone 200 at the transmission
power of the advertising packet occurring at the time of reception
of the connection request. Therefore, due to the electronic
timepiece 100 performing data communication with the smartphone at
the transmission power that is the minimum capable of maintaining
the connection state with the smartphone 200 at the desired quality
of communication, waste of power consumption can be suppressed.
[0068] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, the electronic
timepiece 100 stores as the transmission power setting value the
transmission power of the advertising packet occurring at the time
of reception of the connection request, and at the time of the next
connection after cutting off of the connection, the electronic
timepiece 100 controls the communicator 103 to start the
transmission of the advertising packet to the smartphone 200 at the
stored transmission power. Therefore, in the case in which there is
no change in the communication environment, the connection with the
smartphone 200 can be established at a lower power than in the case
of transmission of the advertising packet at the maximum
output.
[0069] Further, the present description is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiment, and various modifications are
possible.
[0070] For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, the
electronic timepiece 100 may be further equipped with an
accelerometer, and the transmission power can be controlled on the
based of the change in the quality of communication and a change in
acceleration measured by the accelerometer.
[0071] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, as illustrated
in FIG. 5, upon determination that the timeout period is not passed
(NO in step S206), the CPU 110 performs control (step S207) by
updating the transmission power X from the present transmission
power X by incrementing by the prescribed value, although such
operation is not limiting. Upon determination that the timeout
period is not passed (NO in step S206), the CPU 110 may update the
transmission power from the present transmission power X by
decrementing the transmission power by the prescribed value. Due to
such operation, when the transmission power X is decremented by the
prescribed value each prescribed period during the interval of
reception of the connection request and the connection request
becomes unable to be received, the CPU 110 sets the transmission
power to the value obtained by incrementing the transmission power
at that time by the prescribed value (transmission power on the
basis of the transmission power occurring at the time when the
signal reception state of the connection request changes). Due to
control in this manner, communication can be performed at the
smallest power that enables reception of the connection
request.
[0072] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, although the
electronic timepiece 100 stores as the setting value of the
transmission power the transmission power of the advertising packet
occurring at the time of reception of the connection request, the
stored transmission power setting value is not limited to a single
value. For example, a first transmission power stored immediately
beforehand and a second transmission power set to the transmission
power set at the time of the further previous connection may be
stored. Here, in the case in which the first transmission power is
lower than the second transmission power, processing may be used
such that the communicator 103 is controlled to start the
transmission of the advertising packet at the stored first
transmission power, and when the timeout period passes at this time
without the ability to receive the connection request, to switch to
the second transmission power for transmission of the advertising
packet. Due to such operation, the transmission power values
occurring under conditions of the latest connection and under
conditions of the previous-to-latest connection can be stored, and
thus the connection can be established at a lower power than in the
case of transmission of the advertising packet at the maximum
output at the time of the next connection.
[0073] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, although an
example is described in which the time of the electronic timepiece
100 is changed by communication in which the electronic timepiece
100 and the smartphone 200 use Bluetooth (registered trademark), a
different communication method can be used, such as by changing the
time by communication using a wireless LAN or Wi-Fi (registered
trademark).
[0074] Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, although an
example is described in which the time measured by the electronic
timepiece 100 is updated to the time measured by the smartphone
200, the time measured by the smartphone 200 may be updated to the
time measured by the electronic timepiece 100.
[0075] Moreover, although the smartphone 200 and the electronic
timepiece 100 are cited as example apparatuses in the
aforementioned embodiment of, the present description is not
limited to such apparatuses as the equipment suitable for use of
the present description, and any wireless communication apparatus
capable of wireless communication cay be used, such as a smart
watch.
[0076] Moreover, although in the aforementioned embodiment an
example is described in which the processor that performs the
control operations is the CPU 110, the control operations are not
limited to software control by the CPU. A hardware configuration
may be used by which a part of all of the control operations are
performed by hardware such as a dedicated logic circuit.
[0077] Moreover, although in the above description an example is
described in which the ROM 102 formed from non-volatile memory such
as flash memory is used as a computer-readable medium for storage
of the program 115 for the time update processing of the present
description, such operation is not limiting. Other
computer-readable media can be used appropriately such as portable
recording media such as a hard disc drive (HDD), a compact disc
(CD)-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD), or the like. Moreover,
the data of the program according to the present description may be
applied to a carrier wave as a medium for providing the data via a
communication line.
[0078] Additionally, specific details such as the configurations,
control procedures, display examples described in the above
embodiments can be modified appropriately within a scope that does
not depart from the gist of the present description.
[0079] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for
explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has
presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed
description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,
along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled.
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